For the long history that man has been making fires, matches occupies a relatively short stint on the scene. According to wikipedia matches have only been in wide spread use since early 1800's.
Matches served a good purpose, but in my opinion matches have run there course and should be retired, at least as far as backpacking / canoeing are concerned.
Today we have lighters ( I use the refillable butane lighters) and when that runs out / breaks / gets wet you have the old fashion magnesium spark igniters.
So I don't even use matches at all any more. The lighter gives out an excellent flame and the spark igniter is used in emergency situations.
Matches still have their
Sunday April 29th 2007Matches still have their place, they are light, cheap, and pretty fast on the draw. I wouldn't write them off just yet. Also with matches you know how many you have. With a refillable lighter it's always a guess.
Only problem with matches is getting them wet, but you can just dip the heads in candle wax to water proof them.
Super waterproof matches
Monday April 30th 2007A hunting buddy of mine made up some waterproof match kits for the guys in our hunting party one year. He took about 8 strike anywhere wooden matches, rolled them in a little plastic wrap and inserted them into an empty 20-guage shotgun shell. Then he slid the 20-guage shell into an empty 12-guage shell and sealed the seam with melted wax. The little contraption might even float (didn't verify this). In an emergency, strike the match on a zipper or on the little ribs of the shotgun shell.
Duffer, Sounds like an
Wednesday May 2nd 2007Duffer,
Sounds like an excellent idea, but what do you use for primary fire lighting? A lighter?
Multiple disposable lighters
Friday May 4th 2007Yeah. When it comes to getting the fire going, I'm more into easy, light, and cheap, rather than cool, finesse, and style. I just buy a 3-pack of the cheap little disposable lighters and carry one in my pocket and two in my pack. So far, I haven't frozen to death or been forced to eat raw fish...except for that one regrettable visit to a sushi bar.
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